Firemen behind ban on novelty lighters

Fire safety and consumer advocacy organizations are urging holiday shoppers, especially parents, to avoid purchasing novelty lighters to prevent children from playing with fire this holiday season.

They are also pushing for a permanent legislative ban of the toy-like lighters statewide, and are seeking a Senate sponsor for a bill proposed by Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, D-Bronx.

Over the years, there have been multiple instances of deaths, injuries and fires due to novelty lighter use among children across the country. These incidents include the story of two Arkansas toddlers, 15-month-old Peyton Edwards and 2-year-old Breydon Edwards of Russellville, Ark., who died after setting fire to their apartment with a motorcycle-shaped lighter.

“There have been tragedies around the country where children have died by fires ignited by these things, and they aren’t toys, but they resemble [toys] and really they have a potent combination of features that attract children,” said New York Public Interest Research Group Legislative Counsel Russ Haven. “Sooner or later, they’ll get into kids’ hands, and then it’s too late.”

Novelty lighters displayed at a press conference in Albany last week to highlight the proposed legislation. The featured lighters designed to look identical to toys such as animals and cars. They also include features entertaining to children such as visual effects like flashing lights or sound effects.

NYPIRG, FASNY and the state Office of Fire Prevention Control are also calling for the banning of novelty lighters because they believe their toy-like appearance undermines the fire safety messages that parents and fire educators give to children.

Next session, Haven said he and other firefighter organizations want to go a step further than just urging shoppers to avoid novelty lighters, they want to ban the sale of these toy-like flame producers in the whole state. The Novelty Lighter Bill, would amend the general business law, by prohibiting the retail sale and distribution of novelty lighters to any person in the state.

Jim Burns, president of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York, said novelty lighters are easily accessible and sold in many convenience stores, gas stations and hardware stores, and can be exchanged as gifts during traditional events during the holiday season.

“These toy-like devices naturally appeal to small children,” said OFPC State Fire Administrator Bryant Stevens. “Appearing to be harmless toys, novelty lighters have proven to be incredibly dangerous to young children and a ban, which is supported by firefighting, consumer and child safety groups alike, is the best way top keep these dangerous products out of the hands of youngsters.”

Burns agreed and said he “strongly urge[s] our elected leaders and legislators to ban novelty lighters to keep our kids, families and homes safe.”

The novelty lighter legislation (A8402-a) was introduced in the Assembly by Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, D-Bronx, in 2011 and passed earlier this year. Kirby Hannan, legislative representative of the FASNY, said they need to find a new sponsor in the Senate for the bill since the bill’s main sponsor, Sen. Roy McDonald, R-Saratoga, was not reelected. Once they find a new sponsor the bill will have to be reintroduced in Senate.

“This being the holiday season we thought it would be an appropriate time to speak to the issue of toys and children and the fact that [toy-like or novelty lighters] are available on the daily basis,” Burns said.

During the press conference in Albany last week, the advocates displayed more than a dozen lighters including ones that looked identical to a children’s tractor toy, and a lighter that appeared identical to Nemo from a popular Disney Pixar film Finding Nemo.

“These toy-like devices present an unnecessary danger to the children of the state as well as the country,” Stevens said. “As firefighters and as parents we always try to stress to our children the dangers of fire, not to play with lighters and all of that through their childhood, well [novelty lighters] send kind of a mixed message.”

According to information from the FASNY, 15 states have passed statutes in regards to the use of novelty lighters. Five states have passed a jurisdictional ban, including Maine, Massachusetts, Washington, Oregon and Hawaii.